Llansteffan ("the church enclosure of St Stephen") lies on the western side of the River Tywi estuary, seven miles below the county town of Carmarthen and opposite the village of Ferryside. The Castle The village is dominated by its impressive castle which stands on a headland overlooking the sand-flats of the mouth of the River Tywi. The strategic importance of its location was recognised by the Norman invaders of Wales who established an enclosure within the ancient defences of an Iron Age fort. The castle controlled an important river crossing and it changed hands several times. The Camville family who held the castle from the late 12th to the early 14th century built the formidable masonry castle on the site of the early earth-and-timber stronghold. Dylan Thomas had strong family connections with Llansteffan and he visited it regularly from the age of 4 right up until the day before he sailed for America (where he died, aged 39). His mother’s family came from several farming communities in the area.